CHINA STEPS IT UP
BEIJING: President Xi Jinping ng warned that “no force” can an shake China as he oversaw w a massive military celebration on of 70 years of Communist ist Party rule, shadowed by a day ay of protest in seething Hong ng Kong that threatened to steal al the spotlight.
Standing on the Tianannmen Rostrum where Chairrman Mao Zedong proclaimed ed the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, Xi extolled the “Chinese dream” of national rejuvenation — his vision of restoring China to perceived past glory.
“There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation,” Xi said, wearing a “Mao suit” as he stood alongside party leaders in Tiananmen Square.
“No force that can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead,” the most powerful leader since Mao said before riding in an open-roof car to review troops.
Around 15,000 soldiers, tanks and hi-tech weapons filed past Tiananmen Square for an event celebrating China’s journey from a country broken by war and poverty to being the world’s second-largest economy.
A symbolic 70-gun salute was fired at the square and the red national flag was raised to begin festivities held under tight security, with road closures and even a ban on flying kites.
The military showed off China’s most advanced weapons, some being shown for the first time, as rows of soldiers marched in lock-step past Xi. Among them was the Dongfeng-17, a nuclear-capable glider that foreign analysts say is designed to manoeuvre at high speed to evade anti-missile defences.
Another missile displayed, the Dongfeng-41, is believed to have a range of up to 15,000km, which would make it world’s longest-range military missile. Analysts say it may be able to carry as many as 10 warheads to hit separate targets. Soldiers in helmets and combat gear shouted “Hello, leader!” and “Serve the people!” Xi replied, “Hello, comrades.”
But behind the festivities, a clutch of challenges tests Xi’s ability to maintain economic and political stability.
“The party hopes that this occasion will add to its legitimacy and rally support at a time of internal and external challenges,” Adam Ni, China researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney, told AFP.
The major headache is Hong Kong, where prodemocracy protesters hit the streets early in a bid to grab the spotlight from Beijing, with a series of rallies against the erosion of their special freedoms. Officers fanned out across the territory and small pockets of demonstrators marched in the streets for what they dubbed a “Day of Grief”, while officials watched a flag-raising ceremony behind closed doors.
Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam was not there: she was among the dignitaries at Tiananmen.
Access to the Beijing parade was restricted with police turning away crowds. Movie theatres organised screenings of the celebrations.
The show of force was followed by a pageant involving 100,000 civilians and 70 floats depicting China’s achievements. Organisers were to release 70,000 doves and 70,000 balloons during an evening performance.